Thursday, September 22, 2016

On Redistricting, Rauner, and Baseball...

What or who’s the most important factor in a baseball team’s
ultimate success?The Coach?The Star Players?The Hitters?The Pitching Staff?

You might be surprised and a bit underwhelmed to find the
stadium’s designer as one of the arguably preeminent elements of a winning
squad.

You build a baseball park and your first questions of design
are whether it should be a hitters’ park or a pitcher’s park.Changes the whole dynamic of drafts and scouting
and expenditures and minor league emphases.

Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, where the Rangers play
is a hitter’s park: batters produce 9.1% more runs than the overall average of other
baseball parks.Contrariwise, in San
Francisco, California, the Giants play in a park designed for pitchers, and therefore
a 420 foot power alley and extra foul ball territory, which provides a thrower
5.8% fewer runs than an average ball park.

Designing a political powerhouse?The same influences apply for voting
districts in a state.In fact, when it
comes to maintaining a base of power and control, he who holds the power to
design (sometimes called Gerrymandering) the political borders in the state
holds the political future – or so it is often thought.More about that later.

In an attempt to lessen the strength of the Federalists in
1812, the Massachusetts’s legislature received the go-ahead from then Governor
Elbridge Gerry to split the voting precinct in Essex County.The newly formed district was designed to
support the former-President Thomas Jefferson’s political proclivities and it
meandered, swerved, and spiraled over the map so much so that it became – as
one local newspaper suggested – similar to the rubbery amphibian found under
dead wood in the wet spring.Instead,
however, of calling it a salamander, the local press dubbed it a “Gerrymander”
after the governor.

According to Consultant David Winston, who drew White House
Districts for the GOP after the 1990 U.S. Census, “As a mapmaker, I can have
more impact on an election than a campaign…more of an impact than a candidate.
When I, as a mapmaker, have more of an impact on an election than the voters,
the system is out of whack.”Winston’s
comments can be heard echoing behind the USC Annenberg Center’s website
entitled The Redistricting Game.In the Game’s table of contents, you’ll find
an opportunity to try to build new districts on a fundamental level of
learning, a partisan gerrymander, a bipartisan gerrymander, an inclusion of
Voting Rights Act limitations, and a final “reformed” method.I suggest you try it at www.redistricting
game.org.You’ll learn quite a bit.

Recently this summer, the Illinois Supreme Court dismissed
an appeal by the Independent Maps Committee to allow a citizen petition for an
amendment on redistricting to appear on the Novemeber 6th ballot in
Illinois.

Later, another rejection by the Illinois Supreme Court to
rehear the case earned not only the anger of Governor Bruce Rauner but also the
assurance he will add that ultimatum to his growing list of other demands in
his Turnaround Agenda.

The Independent Map petition was deemed unconstitutional in
its design, straying outside of the constitutionally prescribed “structural and
procedural” limitations of Article XIV, section 3.In the 4-3 partisan finding of the Court, Justice
Kilbride questioned an outline of added duties to the office of the Illinois
Auditor General (previously Representative Frank Mautino), noted language
within the petition which drifts into revenue seeking or enhancements, and criticized
a narrowly prescriptive methodology for a plan to redistrict.

Rauner was quick to react and seize upon his old saw of
“corruption” and a “rigged system.”

“’What
drives people away from Illinois is the sense that our political system is
broken and our government is unaccountable to the people,’ Rauner said in a
statement denouncing the ruling.”

In
fact, Illinois is one of another 36 states where the legislature is responsible
for drawing the voting districts in the state.In these legislatures, adoptions of such districts are accomplished by
simple majority votes.This is
especially frustrating for a governor like Rauner, who has vowed to “change
Springfield” and “set term limits” and “drive them all nuts.”

The
last promise has been evidenced in his refusal to settle on a state budget for
over a year; and with new demands for pension ‘reform,’ term limits, and now an
amendment on redistricting being included – well, the budget may be suspended
until the next redistricting plan is presented to the office of the governor
for signing in 2021.

By
the way, the Governor in Illinois does have the power to veto any planned
map.And, the state also allows for the
establishment of a backup commission comprised of members appointed by the
leaders in the General Assembly if there is inability to agree upon a plan.

The
Tribune likewise published blistering opinions in its editorial pages regarding
the partisan divide evidenced in the Court’s decision.“Once again machine politics won. Voters
lost.Independent Maps, a group of civic
leaders and volunteers…”

FitzSimons

This
is not to say that the Independent Maps Organization does not have some back
history itself in politics, the Chicago Tribune, or connections to Illinois as
a better business model. In fact, the
leader and spokesperson of the Independent Maps movement is a former Tribune
CEO, Dennis FitzSimons.According to an
article published by Dennis Rodkin, FitzSimons had “spent 25 years at Tribune
Co. before stepping down after helping to engineer its sale to Sam Zell and an
Employee Stock Ownership Plan.” As you know, Zell masterminded the bankruptcy
of the newspaper and forced the building’s recent sale. At least it wasn’t Donald Trump. (http://www.chicagomag.com/Radar/Deal-Estate/February-2011/Former-Tribune-Chairman-FitzSimons-Sells-His-North-Shore-Home/)

And
what was in the plan that Rauner argues would make Illinois free of the
political corruption and rigging under which we have all suffered?It will be accomplished by the Independent Redistricting Commission,
comprised of 11 Commissioners.

It
sounds so, well, non-partisan doesn’t it? But if you thought the rubrics of the
Hunger
Games seemed a bit obtuse, the Independent Maps Plan appears as
impervious to manipulation as a wealthy parent’s desire to get his child into a
great school like Walter Payton High through some clever intrigue and an
under-the-table donation.

Here
it is in synopsis and small font.

The Auditor General will begin a search for applicants for potential Reviewers who meet criteria for
operating in an ethical and non-partisan manner and have met a four-year
history of non-partisan voting while adhering to standards of ethical conduct. Hundreds
will apply.

The Auditor General will select 30 from the many applications he will
receive.

By the end of March of the Federal
decennial census, the Auditor General
shall publicly select by random draw three permanent Reviewers.They will now
become The Panel of Reviewers.

In addition, the Auditor General will entertain applications from those who would
serve in the capacity of Commissioner
in the Independent Redistricting process.After assuring that each applicant is sufficient in analytical
abilities, preferably non-partisan, a resident of specified time in Illinois, a
registered voter, a suitable representative of the geographic or ethnic
diversity, etc., the Panel of Reviewers
shall select 100 potential Commissioners.They will now become The Pool of Possible Commissioners.

The Speaker, the Senate President,
the two Minority Leaders of the General Assembly may each remove up to five
from The Pool of Possible Commissioners.
After this, the Panel of Reviewers
publicly select in a random draw the seven Permanent
Commissioners.

The seven Permanent
Commissioners will reside in the judicial districts – two affiliated with
one party, two affiliated with the other party, and three unaffiliated to
either party.

The Speaker, the Senate President,
and the two Minority Leaders of the General Assembly shall now each appoint one
additional Commissioner from the Pool on the basis of potential contributions
to demographic and geographic diversity.

The now eleven Permanent Commissioners shall meet publicly and begin an election
of officers, identify a quorum of 6, provide an allowance for voting only when
all political affiliations are equally balanced, develop a redistricting plan,
present said plan to the public explaining its compliance with the
Constitutional legal requirements, and vote on the plan.

When the Permanent Commission fails
to agree or file a redistricting plan by June 30th of the year
following the Federal decennial census, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
and the most senior Justice of the opposite party will jointly appoint a Special Commissioner of Redistricting,
who shall hold at least one public hearing and file the finished plan with the
Secretary of State.The office of the
Secretary of State will presume the plan valid and publish it.

That all
clear, Katniss?Welcome to Panem.

Oh,
by the way, that 1812 “Gerrymandering” attempt by the Massachusetts’s Governor
was a total failure.The Federalists won
despite the creative outlining of districts to prevent a victory.One political scientist, Mark Rush, argues in
his book Does Redistricting Make a
Difference? we should all regard the popular rush to redistricting by
commission or panel rather skeptically because the long-term demonstrates
little change and smaller effect and an almost impossible ability to control
the ever-changing outlines of populations and ethnicities or sudden burst of hot
issues.Moreover, he warns, those who argue
such validity are often promoting the highly paid political consultants who
thrive on such shifts in our original democratic method.Koch Brothers anyone? (ISBN 9780739101926)

Feel
conflicted?I do.

After
all, Madigan rose to power in 1980 when a redistricting panel of eight
Republicans and Democrats decided upon a random draw to break the impasse.Madigan was given the green light to draw up
the political boundaries after the name was ironically selected from President
Abraham Lincoln’s top hat.

What
we see today is the later generations of tweaking and alterations – some
required by the Voting Rights Act, challenges, court reviews, etc. – of a skilled
politician who has held his party’s confidence and probably forced fealty for
another 36 years. Even as early as 1981,
the Tribune begrudgingly characterized him as a “political wizard.”

Other
states provide for much simpler and transparent designs for Redistricting
Commissions.So many evolutions by former
Tribune CEO Chairman FitzSimons’ product invites worry about influences in that
dark world under the table or in back hallways.Six states offer simple commissions of major players in the government –
governor, auditor, leaders of the legislative branches.Some are strictly small groups of
non-partisan, less than ten.Judicial
leaders in some states select various affliations to begin with. Very few
follow as complicated a scheme as the one proposed by FitzSimons and then
dashed by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Speaking
of the Cubs…sorry, I think that was some time ago.Of course you’ve noticed how the asymmetrical outfield distracts and
befuddles opposing players.Add some
crannies, a lot of vines, and a possible ghostly goat and the game takes on
some real wrinkles.

Governor
Rauner abhors wrinkles…or rules or the past…or anything that does not give him
what he wants NOW. Remind you of anyone?

Just
for a moment, imagine all baseball fields exactly alike, equal distances and
parameters, and same winds and uniform lighting (please don’t think of Cellular
Field, for your own sake).And if you’ll indulge me my baseball metaphor,
imagine term limits.That great pitcher
you have right now…well, he can only pitch for two innings and he must leave
the game.

“Sorry,
Jake, you’ve got to go now according to the added rules of the new Turnaround
Baseball Commissioner/player.Oh, yeah,
and he gets four strikes instead of three when he comes up to the plate against
you. “

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“But
I’m not even warmed up…”

Because,
believe me, Rauner is the rookie batter in this Illinois political league and
he wants to even the fields and shorten the lives of those he faces.Why?Every facet of his Turnaround Agenda is designed to give him the
opportunity to weaken a foe and provide him an extra chance to make him the
winner.And he’ll spend $20 million
($16M already) to do just that.

About Me

I am a retiree, political activist, social advocate and community volunteer. I taught at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange for 34 years in the Language Arts classroom and worked as an administrator for several years. My current avocations include various community outreach and assistance programs. Having benefitted from employment in a collegial, reflective teaching environment that encouraged dedication and professionalism, I continue to seek the promotion of education at all levels as a long-term effort combining talent, perseverance, commitment, and constant professional growth - not a blind adherence to a business model of measured production.

Copyrights & Fair Use

This blog contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of issues vital to a democracy. I believe this constitutes a “fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law.